The Royals recently released their promotions schedule, and it should come as no surprise that it’s completely filled–71 of the 81 home games feature some kind of promotion. The Royals have made a habit of having to lure fans to the park with free tchotchkes, discounted tickets, cheap food and other various promotions. Clearly they haven’t been bringing in fans with good baseball, so they have to resort to something.

Honestly, the promotions don’t bother me much. At worst, there is a line at the gate while people wait for their free item. I’m fine with keeping the promotions schedule, it’s the in-game “entertainment” and other distractions which I’d prefer to see thrown overboard. I’m still not convinced there is a single person on the planet who goes to the Royals game because they have mini-golf or a between-innings game show.

As I perused the lengthy promotions schedule, there was one thing that stuck out at me.

“INK Local Music Showcase: Catch a free concert on us. Every Wednesday Student Night will feature live local music prior to the game in the Outfield Experience. And you can satisfy your appetite with a $7 hot dog and beverage special at the Crown Classic concession stand in the Outfield Experience. For details, visit www.royals.com/studentnight.”

I really like this idea. The Royals are an institution in this city, even when they’re not good they are important to the identity we all share. It’s a gathering place for people on summer nights, be they young, old or families. I really like the idea of the Royals helping to showcase what makes Kansas City great. Whether it’s with local restaurants in the concourse, spotlighting great Kansas Citians through the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat and now by showcasing local bands prior to a game. I’m even impressed by some of the bands, the ones that I know are really good. Oh, did I mention you can also get a beer and a hot dog for $7 that night? Win-win.

Going to a baseball game should give people an idea of what that city is all about. For many people, their only taste of Kansas City will be a weekend baseball series. I think it is important that their experience be a Kansas City one, not a corporatized one that attempts to appeal to the lowest common denominator. In some ways this is even more important at Kauffman Stadium since the complex is not near the urban center. It’s very possible that someone can come to see some ball games and never come close to some of the great institutions this city has. So we have to take it to them.

Having local bands, rather than washed up national acts perform at the games is a great step in that direction. I think it’s an inspired idea and there should be more like it. How about bringing some works from the Kemper Musem of Modern Art out and displaying them in the Hall of Fame or one of the suites for people to peruse? Or better yet, showcase some local artists in conjunction with First Friday. I’d like to hear some of your ideas on what we could do tie in our city with the promotions in the comments.

Here is a schedule of the INK Student Nights and the bands that will be playing.

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Comments

It’ll just be more awesome when they don’t have to have a promotion in 71 of the 82 home games to bring out the fans.

Okay I’ll admit, I am planning on going to games with promotions I like, that doesn’t mean I won’t watch more games on TV, just the whole hassle of going to the park and paying for parking and tickets…meh.

I will be there on 4/2 though, watching the Royals play. Then watching the prospects play. I even sprung for really really good seats, behind home plate for my dad, my cousin and I. I figure what the heck, go all out, let’s support the Process all the way!

This is a really cool idea, and I wonder if other teams do such things. I know living in the Boston area, when Fenway hosts a concert, it is some big name musician or band. Things like this make me wish I lived a lot closer than the 1500 miles away I am.

Written by Chaim Mattis Keller about 4 years ago.

Do you have little kids, Nick? Because I can’t imagine sitting through a baseball game with my family without the between-innings entertainment keeping their interest during the non-baseball minutes. Little kids don’t have any patience, and as soon as even a few seconds pass by without the entertainment, they’re fidgeting in their seats and whining to their parents – who want to enjoy the game in a relaxed manner – for this, that and the other thing. I speak from experience, here.

Isn’t this one of the things from Jonah Keri’s new book that he found the Rays doing, boosting attendance through post-game concerts?

Written by nick scott about 4 years ago.

I have a son, and he enjoys watching the entire game. He’s only 2 though. I’m quite sure that prior to the between innings annoy-o-tainment, that kids lived through many, many baseball games.

And as a parent, I’d much, much, much rather hear my child whine for a few minutes than see the embarrasement that is the so-called between innings entertainment. We really don’t need to be “entertained” every second of every minute of our lives.

Written by jk about 4 years ago.

Wow, they really did select some of the better local bands. I’m not a fan of all of them, of course, but it’s nice to see that they have someone who knows what they’re doing in charge of this. I, too, despise the in-game entertainment and noise at the new k. I’d much rather watch some damn baseball and relax. Still, I’m more likely to go to one of these games for a chance to see a couple of these bands in a strange environment. Cool!

Written by Nick Scott about 4 years ago.

I believe the bands are playing prior to the game too, which is a good idea.

Written by Chaim Mattis Keller about 4 years ago.

Nick, we don’t need to be entertained every minute of our lives, but for a kid – you say yours is 2? Try this again at ages 5-8 or so, and multiply it by several kids (who can start picking on one another if bored) – 5 minutes of sitting and doing nothing is practically torture. (Hence the “time out” or “sit in a corner” as being a useful form of punishment.) Considering that you’re paying for the kid’s ticket (again, at age 2, you might not have been), I’d say that any bit of entertainment they’re squeezing into his experience is a plus rather than a minus.

It’s not there for the sophisticated sabermetric adult who might look over his scorecard and try to calculate how the pitcher’s xFIP has changed since the last half-inning. It’s there for the kids. If baseball doesn’t keep the interest of the younger generation, then the sport hits a dead end.

Certainly it’s better than what TV and Radio broadcasts have between innings.

Written by Zack Daddy about 4 years ago.

Really? This is blog-worthy! How ’bout info on Fish? Or, the looming cuts. Or, Gordon’s new swing? You’re shark jumping.

Written by Nick Scott about 4 years ago.

Chaim,

I’m fairly certain that kids sat through baseball games for decades prior to this.

“Really? This is blog-worthy! How ’bout info on Fish? Or, the looming cuts. Or, Gordon’s new swing? You’re shark jumping.”

Yes. I love jumping sharks. It’s a lot of fun.

Written by Nick Scott about 4 years ago.

“Certainly it’s better than what TV and Radio broadcasts have between innings.”

Honestly, I disagree. Commercial breaks on tv and radio don’t bother me at all. I can easily escape them by turning the volume down or changing the channel. I cannot escape a 10 story videoboard with audio so loud it can burst an ear drum. It’s inescapable and I’d love nothing more than to get rid of it. Honestly, If they tore down the video board I’d be happy.

Yeah, I’d miss the stats and replays, but to get rid of the other crap it’d be well worth it. And the ribbon board can go with it too. I really can’t understate how awful this stuff is to me. In fact, lately I’ve preferred watching the game on tv than attending in person.

Written by Nick Scott about 4 years ago.

“If baseball doesn’t keep the interest of the younger generation, then the sport hits a dead end.”

It’s not baseball they’re luring people in with, it’s stupid silly games, blathering, mini-golf and everything else. They need to identify and create baseball fans, not people who go to stadiums to get drunk and be entertained by running hot-dogs.

Written by Muhammed about 4 years ago.

Dumb article. Wish I could forget I read it.

Written by Clark Fosler about 4 years ago.

I would offer that Fish is not ‘blog-worthy’. He’s left-handed, throws hard and has yet to get anyone out above A ball. His acquisition is curious, but until we see how much of a shot the Royals give him over the next 10 days, hard to analyze.

Looming cuts: we discussed the bullpen yesterday. After that, Sean O’Sullivan v. Vin Mazzaro and Pedro Feliz v. Chris Getz. Assuming Craig doesn’t steal it from me, my plan was to discuss three catchers on the Opening Day roster on Thursday. Although, to be honest, I’m not sure THAT’S blog-worthy.

As for Gordon’s new swing – I’ll be more interested to see it against Dan Haren and Ervin Santana than spring training competition in the middle of March.

Written by Nick Scott about 4 years ago.

I don’t think we give kids enough credit. A baseball game is entertaining, and while maybe they can enjoy some other entertainment here and there, it’s clearly too much right now. If a kid can’t sit through a 9 inning game, then maybe parents shouldn’t bring them or don’t plan on staying the entire game. I don’t bring my son to events that i don’t think he can handle. I may want to go, but he’s not ready or can’t sit through them.

A baseball game is marketed to adults and I believe that it shouldn’t pander to kids and adults who don’t care about the sport. It ruins it for everyone. I don’t believe for one second that any of this BS “entertainment” is needed by any kids or adults. It gives people in the marketing department something to do so they can justify their salary.

I’m just messing with you guys. Spring Training is in many ways impossible to write about without actually being there. I could make some stuff up or copy someone else’s work, but i don’t do that. I’ll be there next week and you can count on actual baseball stories. Not to mention, this spring training is a complete void of interesting position battles.

Written by Zack Daddy about 4 years ago.

You’re right…we don’t want to read about minor league pitchers KC just picked up that may make the 25 man roster outta ST. We don’t want to analyze the catcher situation. We don’t want to read about Gordon’s new swing. We don’t want to read about any of these things we’ve heard about. Instead, let’s read about a bunch of bands (on a baseball blog) that NONE OF US have heard about or will likely see…EVER. Roster cuts, Gordon, Rule 5 pitchers, catchers, Greinke getting hurt, Teahen bombing in Chicago…that’s all old hat. Boring stuff. Why would we come to Royals AUTHORITY to read about this stuff? ROCK N ROLL FOREVER, BABY!

I’m quite sure that it’s impossible to please every single person, so I do not attempt to try. I’m sorry you are unhappy with the article this one day of the year. I find it interesting, others find it interesting, you don’t. I get that. I’m sorry. But I write about what I want to write about and today it is this. Maybe next time it will be gordon’s swing, but I will not write about it before I’ve even seen it.

Written by Greg about 4 years ago.

Thanks for the article. I think having local bands is a great idea.

I also think they should have some sort of ‘taste of KC’ area with local foods as opposed to everything being all aramark all the time. Same for beer–how about a stand featuring local brews boulevard, free state, tallgrass, etc.? Maybe I just love BBQ and beer too much.

I write one actual letter every year and it’s always to let the Royals know how much I hate their between inning ‘entertainment’ including and actually most spefically the atrocity that is garth brooks. Can’t stand any of it though.

“I also think they should have some sort of ‘taste of KC’ area with local foods as opposed to everything being all aramark all the time”

They do sell boulevard and I always laugh when the line for that cart is 10 people deep and nobody is at the blue moon cart.

Written by Greg about 4 years ago.

I should also add that I don’t have any problem with the kids events, outfield experience type stuff because I can avoid it if I want to. Others whose kids haven’t any attention span for baseball can take advantage and that’s great. It’s the big board stuff that is impossible to enjoy, but I am forced to listen/watch.

Greg, I can agree on that. Avoiding the mini-golf is easy. A 10 story garth brooks is unavoidable. the ribbion boards are a scourge on the earth in my opinion.

Written by kcrb about 4 years ago.

“your right…”
i personally don’t care about grienke or teahan either… but doing this other stuff to draw more fans will let them eventually see real good baseball also… i too took my son who is now 29 to games when he was barely a toddler, he sat and watched the games..until he fell asleep, we didn’t need all the extra “stuff” between innings…but to each their own…kids today aren’t as creative

Written by kcrb about 4 years ago.

didn’t quite finish…and my son who is now 29 and living out of state..still follows the royals very closely..and comments on this site regularly… the blogger has a blog to write about what he wishes…

And trust me, I know this topic and post was easy and not very deep. But what you don’t know is that I spent about 5 hours yesterday and last night preparing things which are in depth and you will get to see very soon. Trust me, we’re constantly working hard to bring you interesting and intelligent royals-related items.

Written by Cody about 4 years ago.

You couldn’t be more correct on the “in-between innings entertainment”, simply horrendous. I’ve always enjoyed one thing about attending games at Kauffman Stadium and its the fact you can buy nose-bleed tickets then wander your way down to seats along or near the foul poles. Those seats allow you the opportunity to see the guys in the bullpen warm-up and even gives you the opportunity to chat with some of them depending on the ball-player. These seats also allow you the chance to watch some of the outfielders warm-up in between innings. This is the entertainment I enjoy and its a shame the advertising “Guru’s” at Kauffman think the monstrous tv in center field is what people want to see and listen to between innings.

Written by Clark Fosler about 4 years ago.

And in the end, this was one column on one day on a site that generally publishes baseball content five days a week all year (or close to it – holidays and hangovers excluded).

Really, was anyone’s day ruined by a discussion of promotions for the coming season? Of the topics likely to be discussed over the next seven or eight posts, was it vital that one of them absolutely HAD to be discussed on a Tuesday morning in mid-March? Shouldn’t we all be focused on filling out our NCAA brackets right now?
I can also verify that Nick was working hard on BASEBALL RELATED topics for this site at length yesterday – as I was involved for an hour and one-half last night assisting him. Not only that, but I didn’t approve his overtime check for that time spent either!

Written by Chaim Mattis Keller about 4 years ago.

So just because a kid gets bored BETWEEN innings if there’s nothing keeping him amused, it means that he shouldn’t be brought to see the actual baseball game? Look, I love the game of baseball. And baseball is great entertainment. But the idleness of spectators while there’s no action on the field is not an essential element of the game.

In June of 2008, my wife and I drove to Mount Rushmore and back with the entire family – at the time, that was seven kids – and one of our stops was to see a game at the K. We’ve also been to sporting events in other cities we have traveled to. Familiies that travel – and I believe Kansas City is a big travel destination in about a six-state radius or so – go to events together. And you know what? The kids were very happy with the little touches that were added for their enjoyment, and that’s what they’ll remember growing up.

“The kids were very happy with the little touches that were added for their enjoyment, and that’s what they’ll remember growing up.”

That’s fine, but it makes me sad. I hope that kids grow up remembering going to the game, not that they saw some crazy dude on a jumbo tron asking drunk people questions. This junk was never at games in the 70s and 80s and even most of the 90s. Kids still liked going to a game and they still grew up to be baseball fans.

that stuff is only there to direct your attention towards advertisements, not to give your kids a better time at the ballpark. I have a kid and yes, I think that if the kid is unbearable if he has to watch players warm up for 2-4 minutes, then he/she shouldn’t be at a game.

Written by Austyn about 4 years ago.

I can not agree with you more Nick about how damn loud it is in the new K. I go to a few games a summer with my dad, we usually sit in the cheap sits to have a little more room to stretch out and watch a baseball game, but we can even talk because we have to practically yell at each other to hear anything we have to say. I don’t mind when they play baseball related stuff on the giant TV but still, can’t they turn it down just a touch? And then I can’t stand when I have to be reminded every half inning that he is a “Royals” fan, and that stupid song they played. That is enough with that, great post, and I am glad i am not the only one that also can’t stand the erroneous amount of drunk people I have to see at The K.

Written by Chaim Mattis Keller about 4 years ago.

It just occurred to me that it’s possible I’m less bothered by the loudness of these side entertainments because, with all the kids I have, I’m used to loud.

Written by Boots about 4 years ago.

When did you take that screen grab? They already changed the schedule as the ACBs aren’t on the Royals website anymore.

Written by bret about 4 years ago.

whatever, the hot dog races are the best. closest competition you’ll see at the K this year. RELISH FTW

Written by Abh about 4 years ago.

There were 3 kids playing jazz at the Drum Room on friday night after the big 12 tourney that were pretty awesome. I always thought the Royals should bring a little local atmosphere out to the ballpark by playing blues and jazz almost exclusively at the games, or for that matter, just having a house band of that type that played music between innings (this would be a brilliant plan for negro leagues throwback night at the very least). Local heritage is celebrated, and I don’t have to listen to Kid Rock, Kenny Chesney, OR 50-cent! Win-win-win!

Any minor league park can blast 6 seconds of canned music before every at bat, let’s try something a little more “KC” and a little less generic. And now let me go a step too far and just suggest the royals permanently wear throw-back uniforms (of the monarchs variety). Wow, I am way too nostalgic for being “only” 30.

Written by Jonathan about 4 years ago.

I actually like some of the between inning stuff, like the kiss cam or the hot dog races with real people in the costumes (not the video board races). Garth is no big deal. But there are other things that annoy me to no end. Especially the taped videos of asking people at the Power and Light District questions. A. How many people are answering correctly and are thus not used? B. It’s kind of not fair to be asking school questions to people who have had a few drinks. C. Oh by the way, that Betsy Ross made the first US flag is open to debate. The tradition that she made the first one comes from one of her descendants, but there are no surviving accounts from the time of the first US flag mentioning her in connection with the flag. They might as well have asked about Washington and the cherry tree as a confirmed fact. (And no, I never liked Jay Leno Jaywalking much, either.)

Of course, the kid’s stuff in the Outfield Experience is okay. Every visitor to the park can decide for themselves whether to take that or leave it.

I never went to the then Royals Stadium as a young child. My parents weren’t (and aren’t) really sports fans, but every once in a while they’d get some tickets for cheap or even free, probably from an employer I’m guessing. But they’d get a babysitter for the night for us kids and go to the game alone. If the kid can’t pay attention to games on the TV or radio, why buy them a ticket and overpriced concessions and then be glad for between inning entertainment to keep them pacified? But if they’re playing little league and are actually interested in baseball, then of course take them.

I have at times chosen games to go to partly because of the freebies given out that day. One doesn’t always know very far in advance who will be pitching, between injuries and whether or not the fifth starter will skip his start when they have off days. Of course Fireworks Fridays are good. But I have cooled on Buck Nights considerably. I think they just lengthen concession lines, even when you want something for full price.

“just having a house band of that type that played music between innings”

That’s genius. I would love that. What a great idea.

Written by royal pain about 4 years ago.

What’s with slamming the article? Nothing wrong with pointing out something about the upcoming season. Geez.

And I’m with Nick, somehow baseball remained “America’s pastime” for 90 years before video scoreboards were invented. Just as many casual fans are turned off by the loudspeakers and constant shilling as are attracted. My non-baseball-fan wife preferred Kaufmann to Busch precisely because it was quieter and less annoyingly commercial; it felt more real to her. If your kids can’t handle two minutes without electronic stimulation, that’s your problem, not the Royals’.

Written by Abh about 4 years ago.

Just one last note on my previous comments re: band and music — I think the Royals could do more to promote Buck’s education center and the Negro Leagues museum, and I think bringing a little “18th and Vine” to the stadium would be one way to do it, since it is so difficult to get people actually down to 18th and Vine.

Written by Chaim Mattis Keller about 4 years ago.

royal pain: No, it’s the Royals’ problem if they can’t sell tickets to those guys. Quality of the product on the field notwithstanding, they are in the business of selling tickets and families that attend with kids are a block of several tickets sold in a single sale.

Written by Nick Scott about 4 years ago.

“Quality of the product on the field notwithstanding, they are in the business of selling tickets and families that attend with kids are a block of several tickets sold in a single sale.”

So prior to ruining the game day experience with a jumbo tron full of junk, families never went to the K? I don’t believe it.

Written by Chaim Mattis Keller about 4 years ago.

Of course some did. But they’re trying to attract more. Obviously, whether or not the stuff you’re not liking alienates existing ticket buyers is something that needs to have been factored in, but I’m guessing the amount of people currently buying tickets who’d stop because of some (admittedly loud) kiddie fluff between innings is minimal, if not actually zero.

Written by royal_pain about 4 years ago.

Chaim,

Maybe we’re minimal, but I guarantee the single biggest reason my wife isn’t interested in attending more Royals games with me is her annoyance at the peripheral crap. She vaguely likes baseball and could be lured into more, but not when every live game feels like a Japanese arcade with a baseball sideshow. And it’s a factor for me as well in deciding just how many games are worth factoring into my limited free time and budget for overall things I like to do. I don’t like getting headaches at baseball games, and I’ll stick with my (and Nick’s) contention that if modern families can’t raise kids to entertain themselves for a few minutes at a time, that’s their internal problem ( and if the Royals can’t stay in business without electronically babysitting said kids, that’s a wider problem as well).

I realize we’re both arguing anecdotally, but I’d be really interested to see what would happen if the Royals did some experimenting with Nick’s “old-school day” idea and had, say, ten games out of the year with the loudspeakers and videos turned off, and just had a quiet stadium with baseball on the field. I’d love to see whether attendence numbers changed at all for a series like that, if given a proper chance to succeed.

I can tell you that these factors pretty much ruined live hockey for me, a sport I used to love intensely. When it got to the point that the crowd didn’t matter because every other minute of the game was music, artificial crowd noise, and seizure-lighting, there was no more reason to go live because the experience was less worthwhile than the close-up view from the couch. Baseball is headed in the same direction.

“Obviously, whether or not the stuff you’re not liking alienates existing ticket buyers is something that needs to have been factored in, but I’m guessing the amount of people currently buying tickets who’d stop because of some (admittedly loud) kiddie fluff between innings is minimal, if not actually zero.”

I’m honestly more apt to stay home because as royal_pain says, it’s becoming a better experience to watch at home because I don’t have to put up with crap being jammed into my eyeballs and ears.